If you are a WordPress website owner, you may have encountered the frustrating 404 error page when trying to access a page or post on your website. This error occurs when a requested page or post cannot be found on the server. In this blog post, we will guide you through the steps to resolve the 404 error in WordPress.
Step 1: Check Your Permalinks Settings The first step in resolving the 404 error in WordPress is to check your Permalinks settings. Permalinks are the permanent URLs to your pages and posts, and they determine how the URLs of your website will look. To check your Permalinks settings, go to the WordPress dashboard, click on Settings and then click on Permalinks. Once you are on the Permalinks settings page, select the “Post name” option and click on the “Save Changes” button. This will update your Permalinks settings, and your website should start working properly.
Step 2: Check Your .htaccess File The .htaccess file is another important file in WordPress that can cause a 404 error. This file is located in the root directory of your WordPress installation and is responsible for directing web servers on how to handle certain requests. To check your .htaccess file, connect to your website using an FTP client and look for the .htaccess file in your website’s root directory. Once you have located the file, rename it to something else like .htaccess_backup. Try accessing your website again to see if this resolves the issue.
Step 3: Check Your Plugins and Theme Sometimes, a plugin or theme can cause a 404 error in WordPress. To resolve this issue, try disabling all your plugins and switch to a default WordPress theme. If this resolves the 404 error, then the issue is caused by a plugin or theme. You can then try activating each plugin and theme one by one until you identify the culprit. Once you identify the problematic plugin or theme, you can either update it or replace it with a better alternative.
Step 4: Re-upload Your Website If none of the above steps resolve the 404 error, you can try re-uploading your website to the server. Sometimes, a file may have been corrupted during the upload process, causing the 404 error. You can use an FTP client to download your website’s files and then upload them back to the server.
Conclusion The 404 error in WordPress can be a frustrating issue for website owners, but with the steps outlined in this blog post, you can resolve the issue quickly and easily. By checking your Permalinks settings, .htaccess file, plugins and theme, and re-uploading your website if necessary, you can eliminate the 404 error and get back to running your website smoothly. Remember to always keep your website’s plugins, themes, and files up-to-date to prevent future issues.